Spring-wheel for vehicles.



No. 045,700. Patented Mar. 20,1000.

- J. L. ANCELLE.

SPRING WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

(Application filed Sept. 28, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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'ATEN JEAN LOUIS ANOELLE, or PERU, INDIANA.

SPRING-WHEEL FOR VEHICLES".

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 645,700, dated March 20, 1900. Application filed September 23, 1899. Serial No. 731,453. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEAN Louis ANCELLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Peru, in the county of Miami and State of Indiana, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in SpringW Vheels for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofv the invention.

This invention relates to wheels which have springs between the rim and the hub and in which the said springs support the weight on the axle as well when they are above the axle as when they are below the same. Prior to my own invention of an improved wheel (as far as I am aware) either the said weight was supported entirely by the springs between the axle and the ground or it was supported by the springs below the axle in one sense (as compression or bending in one direction) and by the springs above the axle in the sense opposite, (as tension or bending in the opposite direction.) In my application of June 26, 1899, Serial No. 721,993, however, I described and claimed a wheel in which the pressure (or, in other words, the weight on the axle) is conveyed to the same spring when it is above the axle in the same sense in which it is communicated thereto when it is below the axle. The new or improved wheel of the present invention is of the same description. By the present invention the springs are connected at the same end with both the rim and the hub by butting or loose connections separately in such a manner that the rim and hub are movable relatively to each other from the mid position in both directions and that their motion relatively to each other from said mid-position in either direction changes the form of the springs in the same sense, (either expanding, contracting, or bending in a particular direction, as the case may be.) As shown in my said application, the motion of the hub in one direction from the mid-position is communicated to the rim, while independent thereof in the other direction. While, therefore, in my said application it was found advantageous to employ a sectional rim, in the present invention it is better to use a continuous rim. Further, in the present invention the butting or loose connections before mentioned are used at both vised and in other relations springs have been employed of various materials (as pneumatic springs, rubber springs, or metal springs, for example) and of various forms, (as spiral compression-springs, spiral tension-springs,

leaf springs, tongue springs, or torsional springs, for example.) In carrying the present invention into effect springs of anykno'wn or suitable material and form may be used;

but only spiral compression-springs of metal (which are considered the best or at least as useful as any) will be illustrated and particu-' larly described, those skilled in the art being able to substitute springs of other form or material if they should desire to use them.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view, the upper half in elevation and the lower half in section, of a spring-wheel in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 2 is a View in section on line H looking in the direction of the arrows.

The hub a (which is shown hollow and adapted for an ordinary journal, but which might be solid, and which, whether hollow or solid, might be provided with ball or other bearings of any suitable description) is supported by springs c, which bear upon the ring 2', connected by spokes 7a with the rim Z. Wire spokes are shown and a hollow rim of the kind used on bicycles in connection with a pneumatic tire, (not shown;) but the parts maybe of any suitable construction. The ringt' is double,with blocks j for spacing the parts and bolts for holding them together; but this is a more detail and may be Varied at will. Two sets of springs c are shownthe inner set between the ring 11 and the hub a, and the outer set between the said ring 2' and the outer ends of the projections n of said hub. As shown, the projections are tubes, but might be made solid, and they are utilized to guide the springs c, (which surround them, as shown,) as well as to convey the pressure to the same. They pass freely between the two parts of the ring 2', and their extremities are connected by ring m. The springs 0 shown are of the spiral compression type, and are each confined between followers p in the form of pins passing through the slots q in the projections n.

The butting or loose connection between the hub and each end of each spring is made by contact of the corresponding pin 1) with the corresponding end of the slot q in which said pin is placed. The butting or loose connection between the rim and the outer end of each spring of the inner set is made by contact of the corresponding pin 19 with the ring i, and in like manner there is a butting or loose connection between the rim and the inner end of each spring of the outer set by direct contact of the corresponding pin with the said ring 1'. The butting or loose connection between the rim and the other end of each of the other springs-that is, the inner end of each spring of the inner set and the outer end of each spring of the outer set-is made through the intermediary of a link 1' or s, the links 9' respectively connecting those pins 17 which are just inside of the ring t' with those which are next the ring m, and the links 8 respectively connecting the pins 19 which are just outside of the ring t' with those which are next the hub at. These links (both of the set '2' and the set 8) are slotted where the intermediate pins 19 pass through them, in order that the intermediate pins may not prevent the movement of the pins connected by the respective links. Other modes or means for forming loose or butting connections can be employed, the modes and means particularly described being, by way of example, as one form of such connections.

The hub a, projections n, and ring m, constituting the hub portion of the wheel, as shown, move up and down together by the contraction and expansion of the springs 0, while the rim Z, spokes k, and the ring 1' (constituting the rim portion of the wheel) rest upon the ground and resist the pressure conveyed through the springs c. The hub portion, the spring portion, and the rim portion of the wheel (of course) all rotate together. When there is no weight on the wheel-hub a, the parts are in the mid-position shown; but on the application of weight thereto the springs are compressed, the pressure conveyed by those below the axle being sustained by the pins 19 which bear upon the inner periphery of the ring 2', while the pressure transmitted by those above the axle is sustained by the pins 19 which bear upon the exterior periphery of said ring. Take, for example, the inner spring 0, immediately below the hub a. The outer pin 19 belonging to said spring bears upon the ring 2', while the end of slot q in the brace n bears upon the corresponding inner pin 19, so that the said spring 0 is compressed between them. When this same spring comes above the axle, the upperend of the slot qbears upon the said outer pin, while the corresponding inner pin 19 is suspended by the links 3 from the pin p which is just outside of said ring With the links 8 slotted and arranged so that the innermost pin 19 can move relatively thereto the outer ends of said links can be secured directly to the ring '11. The same spring a which when below the axle is compressed by contact of its outer pin with the inner periphery of the ringt' and of its inner pin with the inner end of the corresponding slot q respectively, is compressed when it comes above the axle by the contact of its outer pin with the outer end of the corresponding slot (1 and the suspension of its inner pin by the links The operation of each spring of the inner set is the same. Each spring of the outer set when it is below the axle is compressed by the contact of its inner pin with the inner end of the corresponding slot q and by the suspension of its outer pin by the corresponding links r. When it is above the axle, it is compressed by contact of its inner pin with the periphery of the ringt' and the contact of its outer pin with the outer end of the corresponding slot q. Thus whether above or below the axle the pressure is communicated to the same spring in the same sense-namely, in the sense of compression. By slotting the links r from the outermost pin 19 inward toward the center of the wheel their respective lower ends could be secured to the ring 1'.

Should it be desired to use only one of the sets of springs, either the inner or the outer set could be omitted. It the outer set be dispensed with, the projections it could terminate at the ring 2', the outer portions of said projections and the links r being dispensed with and the outer ends of the links 8 being secured to the ring 2'. If the inner set be dispensed with, the links .9 would be omitted and the inner ends of the links 0' could be secured to the ring 2', the slots in said links 1' being extended to the outermost pin 19. In any case a ring connecting the ends of the projections 02 would be desirable in order to strengthen the wheel; but its use is more important with the long projections shown than it would be if said projections should not extend beyond the ring z'.

If desired, one set of springs might extend from the innermost to the outermost of the pins, the pins adjacent to the ring 2' being omitted and the adjacent ends of the links 0' 3 being secured to the ring t'; but it is considered more useful (at least in general) to use the two sets of springs, as shown.

As shown, it will be observed that the two sets of springs are arranged in circles around the hub, one set inside and the other outside of the inner ring 2', which is connected by the spokes 75 with the rimZ and to which the pressure of both sets of springs is transmitted. This disposition has certain advantages irrespective of the transmission of the pressure by butting or loose connections with the hub portion and the rim portion of the wheel separately and also irrespective even of the transmission of the pressure through the same spring in the same sense when it is above as when it is below the axle, and said disposition is covered'by the twelfth of the hereinafterwritten claims, not only in connection with said transmission, but as well.

The new or improved wheel may be used for bicycles,carriages, railway-cars, and other vehicles, and, indeed, for any use for which a spring-wheel is applicable.

I claim as my invention or discoVery-= 1. A wheel composed of a hub portion, a rim portion, and a spring portion having butting or loose connections in the same direction with the hub and rim portions separately, so that these'are movable relatively to each other from the mid-position in both directions and that such motion in each direction changes the form of the springs in the same sense, substantially as described,

2. A wheel composed of a hub portion, a rim portion, and a spring portion which both on the hub side and the rim side has butting or loose connections with the hub and rim portions separately, substantially as described.

3. Awheel composed of ahub portion, arim portion which consists of an inner ring, a rim and spokes between the inner ring and the rim, and a spring portion which has butting or loose connections in the same direction with v the hub portion and the inner ring separately, substantially as described.

4. A wheel composed of a hub portion, a rim portion'which consists of an inner ring, a rim and spokes between the inner ring and the rim, and a spring portion which consists of two sets of springs one set outside and one-inside of said inner ring, and which for both sets of springs has butting or loose connections for .the same ends of the respective springs with the hub portion and the inner ring separately, substantially as described. 7

5. Awheel composed ofarim portion, a hub portion which consists of a hub with projections, and a spring portion which consists of springs guided by said projections and which at each end of the several springs has butting or loose connections with the rim portion and the hub portion separately, substantially as described.

A wheel composed of a rim portion, a hub portion which consists of a hub with projections and of a ring fastened to said projections, and a spring portion which both on the hub side and the rim side has butting or loose connections in the same direction with the rim portion and the hub portion separately, substantially as described.

7. A wheel composed of a rim portion which consists of an inner ring, a rim, and spokes irrespective thereof,

between said inner ring and said rim, a hub portion which consists of a hub with projections, and a spring portion which consists of springs guided by said projections and which at each end of the several springs has butting-or loose :connections with the rim portion and the hub portion separately, substantially as described.

8. A wheel composed of a rim portion which consists of an inner ring, a rim, and spokes between said inner ring and rim, a hub por- 7 tion which consists of a hub with projections, and a spring portion which consists of two sets of springs, one set inside and one outside of said inner ring, and which for each set has butting or loose connections in the same direction with the rim portion and the hub portion separately both on the rim side and on the hub side, substantially as described.

9. A wheel composed of a rim portion, a hub portion which consists ofa hub withprojections, and a spring portion consisting of one or more sets of springs guided by said projec tions, and provided with followers arranged to establish butting or loose connections with said hub portion by contact with portions of said projections, said spring portion having butting or loose connections with the rim por-' tion of the wheel, substantially as described.

10. Awheel composed ofa rimportion which consists of an inner ring, a rim, and spokes between said inner ring and rim, a hub por= 5'- tion which consists of a hub with projections, and a spring portion which consists of springs provided with followers arranged to establish butting or loose connections with the hub portion and the rim portion of the wheel separoe rately by contact with portions of said projections and of said inner ring, substantially as described.

11. A wheel composed of a rim portion which consists of an inner ring, a rim, and spokes between said inner ring and rim, a hub portion which consists of a hub with projections and of a ring connecting the ends of said projections, and a spring portion having butting or loose connections with said inner ring and the hub portion of the wheel, separately, substantially as described. a

12. Awheel in which the pressure from the axle is conveyed from the hub to the rim through an, inner ring connected by spokes with the rim and also through two sets of springs arranged in circles around the hub, one set inside and the other set outside of said inner ring, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 12o in presence of two witnesses.

JEAN LOUIS ANCELLE.

Witnesses:

JACQUES KUNTZVOY, MICHEL KANTZER. 

